France

FIFA World Ranking (November 2001): 1st

2002 World Cup qualifying: Qualified as defending champion

2001 Overall Record: 8-3-1

World Cup final appearances: 11 - 1930 (7th), 1934 (9th), 1938 (6th), 1954 (11th), 1958 (3rd), 1966 (13th), 1978 (12th), 1982 (4th), 1986 (3rd), 1998 (1st), 2002

Overall Record in WC: 21-14-6

Record vs. U.S.: 2-0-0; 9 GF, 0 GA

Most Recent Match vs. U.S.: France 3, U.S. 0 in Paris, France; October 10, 1979 (Platini, Wagner, Amisse)

Manager: Roger Lemerre (FRA)

Championship Honors: 1984 Olympic champions; 1998 World Cup champions; 1984 & 2000 European champions; 2001 Confederations Cup champions

Key Players: Thierry Henry (F, Arsenal), Marcel Desailly (D, Chelsea), Zinedine Zidane (M, Real Madrid)

Fast Facts: With their victory in 1998, they became the sixth country to win the World Cup on their home soil.... Combined with their triumph in Euro 2000, France is just the second team in history to hold World Cup and European Championship trophies at the same time (Germany won the 1972 Euro title and the 1974 World Cup).... Led by two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane.... Head coach Roger Lemerre has successfully guided the team after Aime Jacquet stepped down after France '98.